Category Archives: Books

Closing Time

Posted on August 8, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

 

Posted in Art, Books | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

To be read pile

Posted on August 5, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

 

Posted in Art, Books, Writing | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Cataloging all the books in existence

Posted on August 2, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

Late last year, the U.S. government took down the free e-book download site Z-Library, and arrested those affiliated with the project. I recently learned about another website that has taken up the mantle and is working to catalog free e-books. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, ebooks, Libraries | Tagged , | 3 Comments

“A Society of Scoundrels”

Posted on August 1, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

“A Society of Scoundrels” by Franz Kafka Translated by Michael Hofmann There was once a society of scoundrels, or rather not scoundrels per se, just ordinary, average people. They always stuck together. When one of them had perpetrated some rascally … Continue reading →

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Banned Book Club

Posted on July 31, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

The Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) launched a new program earlier this month called the Banned Book Club. The program gives users access to books that have been banned in their local libraries by using “GPS-based geo-targeting.” To use … Continue reading →

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Pity the Nation

Posted on July 29, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

Pity the nation that wears a cloth it does not weave and eats a bread it does not harvest. Pity the nation that acclaims the bully as hero, and that deems the glittering conqueror bountiful. Pity a nation that despises … Continue reading →

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To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic

Posted on July 28, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness. What we choose to emphasize in … Continue reading →

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When is a travel book not a travel guide

Posted on July 26, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

As a collector of, and dealer in, the niche market of travel books, I’m always on the lookout for rare and unusual travel books. Many years ago, I read about a special travel book that was not in any way … Continue reading →

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Summer reads and more

Posted on July 24, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

It’s that time of the year when former President Barack Obama releases his summer reading list. Since he has such impeccable and varied tastes, those of us who care about books take notice. While I usually have read at least … Continue reading →

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Pushing back against AI

Posted on July 23, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

The Authors Guild has submitted an open letter to the CEOs of prominent AI companies, including OpenAI, Alphabet, Meta, Stability AI, IBM, and Microsoft, calling their attention “to the inherent injustice in exploiting our works as part of your AI systems without … Continue reading →

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